Canoe bracket

ABSTRACT

A bracket for mounting outboard motors on canoes which comprises an adjustable elongated V-shaped frame and resilient cup-shaped members for engaging sides and top deck of a canoe, each of said members being individually adjustable and a horizontal tail support for a motor to mount same in operative position on the longitudinal axis of the canoe.

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,918,666 Florian 1 Nov. 11, 1975 1 CANOE BRACKET 1.325.143 12/1919 Conteriol 219/2111 R x 2. 42.5 36 t 2-18 4 X [75] Inventor: Nathaniel Florian, PlillltSVlll, Conn. 2 2x3 N 318/4 A ignee: American Standard Company 1 TZI}'1OT.... 1 R plantsvme Conn 3.601.344 8/1971 Nourse 1 243/4 3.645.483 2/1972 Bartosch et a1. 248/4 [22] Filed: Feb. 10. 1975 31] APPL 543 371 Primary Eraminer-Roy D. Frazier Assistant liraminerLawrenee J. Staab V Atturner, Agent, or Firm-E. Seward Stevens [52] US. Cl. 248/4; 248/206 R [51] Int. Cl. B6311 24/26 [58] Field of Search 9/1 R; 115/17, 18; 248/4, ABSTRACT 248/206 363 A bracket for mounting outboard motors on canoes which comprises an adjustable elongated V-shaped [56] References C'ted frame and resilient cup-shaped members for engaging UNITED STATES PATENTS sides and top deck of a canoe. each of said members 747.801 12/1903 Sturges 1 15/18 R being individually adjustable and a horizontal tail sup- 914.777 3/1909 Aarons.... 248/206 R X port for a motor to mount same in operative position 1.100.954 6/1914 Caile A A 248/4 n the longitudinal axis of [he Canogg 1.118.208 11/1914 MeL-aren 248/4 1.309.975 7/1919 Wright .1 115/17 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patant Nov. 11,1975

CANOE BRACKET BACKGROUND The prior art shows numerous support structures and mounts for use in propelling canoes by the use of outboard motors, such as those described in US. Pat. Nos. 1,100,954; 1,118,208; 2,042,598; 2,475,889 and 3,601,344. Installation of a motor on the longitudinal axis of the canoe or double-ended craft is disclosed in the prior art and this type of installation, in and of itself, has advantages over the side or gunwale mountings sometimes used.

Other advantages include improvements in maneuverability, no spray from the motor over the side, ease of installation, shock absorbing effect to minimize vibration and more room for the handler to balance rather than offset" the load.

A particular feature of applicants structure resides in the use of suction cups to engage sides and top portions of the canoe or craft in a resilient and adjustable condition which does not appear in the prior art structures.

A practical embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which the several parts are similarly designated in each view.

Referring to the drawing FIG. 1 represents a top or plan view ofa bracket constructed according to my invention showing the parts in the positions they assume when applied to a canoe As all of the last mentioned cups 9, 10, 11 and 12 are similarly mounted on their respective arms 7 and 8, the mounting of one will be described. Cup 9, for example, is provided with a threaded fastener 24, one end of which is mounted in the said 'cup at and the other end is mounted in a suitable top 26 in arm 7 through nut 27. This threaded fastening permits fine adjustment of each cup towards and away from its respective arm and the sides of the boat or canoe.

For operation, the bracket comprising all the above described elements is fitted over the end" of the canoe so that cup 4 contacts the deck and cups 9, 10, 11, 12 opposite sides thereof. When suitable adjustments have been made to secure a proper tight fit, an outboard motor (shown in dotted outline) is mounted in the usual manner on the horizontally disposed vertical support 13 which is bolted at the apex of main frame 1 by bolts 14.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a simple but effective outboard motor mounting capable of precise adjustment, but easy to install because there is no necessity for the fasteners or holes sometimes necessary to mount the structure on aluminum,

in operative position, an end of the canoe being shown in FIG. 1. and having added thereto an outboard motor shown in dotted outline; and

FIG. 3. is an end view looking from the right towards the left at the structure illustrated in FIG. 1., the dotted outline of the canoe being omitted for the purposes of clarity.

A tubular frame roughly triangular in shape is denoted, generally, by l and comprises elongated L- shaped members 7 and 8 joined telescopically (or its equivalent) at 2 by a perforated tube which is holed at intervals to receive pins 2a to provide desired adjustment in adopting the frame to the width of its boat or canoe.

Located between the base of the triangular frame 1 and its apex is a cross member having arms 16 and 17 fitted into a tube 3 which is similar in construction to tube 2, which may or may not be holed and provided with pins as the main adjustment may be accomplished by 2 and 2a.

Tube 3 is furnished with a suction cup 4 which depends therefrom to engage the top deck of the boat or canoe (said deck being shown in dotted outline only).

Arms 16 and 17 are attached to L-shaped members 7 and 8, respectively, by means of threaded bolts 20, 21 which pass through fittings 22, 23 and are secured on the inside of members 7 and 8 by nuts thereby mounting the cross member comprising arms 16 and 17, tube 3, and its cup 4 to the tubular frame 1.

Arms 7 and 8 are provided on both sides of the cross member with suction cups 9 and 10, located opposite each other, and 11 and 12 located opposite each other, each cup being directed to engage the side of the boat or canoe.

fiberglass or. other craft.

As a safety precaution the properly adjusted bracket may be lashed to the craft by securing the element 2 to the seat, gunwales, cross brace or other available element of the craft. Such lashing is a safeguard against a sudden change in the thrust and/or weight of the motor which might otherwise effect the bracket position.

Since it is evident changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several elements without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I do not intend to be limited except as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is g 1. An outboard motor mounting for pointed-end craft comprising,

a tubular main frame roughly triangular in shape said frame including a pair of,

elongated generally L-shaped arms,

means for adjusting said arms toward and away from each other, 1

a cross member mounted on said arms,

a resilient cup-shaped member depending from said cross member,

a plurality of resilient cup-shaped members mounted on said elongated arms in opposing locations and having their concave sides opening to the interior of said roughly triangular main frame,

a motor support fixed to said L-shaped arms at the apex of said roughly triangular main frame whereby all the cup-shaped members engage a surface of said craft for holding the frame and motor thereto.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting said elongated L-shaped arms toward and away from each other is located opposite the apex of said roughly triangular main frame.

3. The combination according to claim 1 including means for individually adjusting all of said resilient cupshaped members with respect to their arms and cross member. 

1. An outboard motor mounting for pointed end craft comprising, a tubular main frame roughly triangular in shape said frame including a pair of, elongated generally L-shaped arms, means for adjusting said arms toward and away from each other, a cross member mounted on said arms, a resilient cup-shaped member depending from said cross member, a plurality of resilient cup-shaped members mounted on said elongated arms in opposing locations and having their concave sides opening to the interior of said roughly triangular main frame, a motor support fixed to said L-shaped arms at the apex of said roughly triangular main frame whereby all the cup-shaped members engage a surface of said craft for holding the frame and motor thereto.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting said elongated L-shaped arms toward and away from each other is located opposite the apex of said roughly triangular main frame.
 3. The combination according to claim 1 including means for individually adjusting all of said resilient cup-shaped members with respect to their arms and cross member. 